Optical Remote Sensing for Flaming and Smouldering Combustion in Tropical Peatland Fires: A Systematic Review of Detection Mechanisms, Capabilities, and Challenges
6 affiliations
- 1Department of Geodetic Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, 55281, Indonesia; Corresponding author.
- 2Department of Geodetic Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, 55281, Indonesia
- 3Doctoral Program in Geodesy and Geomatics Engineering, Faculty of Earth Science and Technology, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Bandung, 40132, Indonesia; Center for Remote Sensing, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Bandung, 40132, Indonesia
- 4Graduate Program on Mathematics, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, 55281, Indonesia
- 5Undergraduate Program in Department of Geodetic Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Diponegoro, Semarang, 50275, Indonesia
- 6Department of Environmental Science, Graduate School, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, 55281, Indonesia
Abstract
Tropical peatlands store a significant portion of global soil carbon. However, fires in these ecosystems pose major monitoring challenges, particularly in detecting and distinguishing between flaming and smouldering phases. Distinguishing between these phases is crucial because the smouldering phase accounts for the majority of carbon and particulate emissions yet is far more difficult to detect. This review is the first to systematically link the physicochemical mechanisms of tropical peat combustion with remote sensing capabilities. Following the PRISMA 2020 protocol, 408 records were screened, and 23 articles were included to address three research questions: fire detection mechanisms, remote sensing methods and capabilities, and detection challenges. Phase detection relies on temperature-dependent radiation emissions. The flaming phase is best detected using shortwave infrared (SWIR), whereas the smouldering phase is best detected using thermal infrared (TIR) and longwave infrared (LWIR). The primary challenge lies in detecting the smouldering phase, which is difficult to identify yet most significant in terms of emissions. To address this, the study highlights high-temporal-resolution data such as VIIRS and recommends integrating the Tropical Peatland Combustion Algorithm index (ToPeCAI) with subpixel methods to enable accurate monitoring and classification of fire types at the local scale on a daily basis.
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BibTeX
@article{fadillah2026optical,
title = {{Optical Remote Sensing for Flaming and Smouldering Combustion in Tropical Peatland Fires: A Systematic Review of Detection Mechanisms, Capabilities, and Challenges}},
author = {Ma’ruf Arief Fadillah and Bambang Kun Cahyono and Esa Angger Winasis and Dhia Zalfa Zahira and Fitri Cahyani and Nur Muhammad Ikram and Mufid Rafi Al Royyan and Caecilia Alvinny Atulolon and I Made Sutra Mahardika and Nurlaila Sahara Worabay and Yunardi and Rizal Kurniawan and Muhammad Siradz Haningdya and Agustinus Raja Lama and Faiz Karmani and Hyatma Adikara Ajrin},
journal = {Environmental Challenges},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1016/j.envc.2026.101699},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envc.2026.101699},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Optical Remote Sensing for Flaming and Smouldering Combustion in Tropical Peatland Fires: A Systematic Review of Detection Mechanisms, Capabilities, and Challenges
AU - Ma’ruf Arief Fadillah
AU - Bambang Kun Cahyono
AU - Esa Angger Winasis
AU - Dhia Zalfa Zahira
AU - Fitri Cahyani
AU - Nur Muhammad Ikram
AU - Mufid Rafi Al Royyan
AU - Caecilia Alvinny Atulolon
AU - I Made Sutra Mahardika
AU - Nurlaila Sahara Worabay
AU - Yunardi
AU - Rizal Kurniawan
AU - Muhammad Siradz Haningdya
AU - Agustinus Raja Lama
AU - Faiz Karmani
AU - Hyatma Adikara Ajrin
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/30
JO - Environmental Challenges
DO - 10.1016/j.envc.2026.101699
UR - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envc.2026.101699
AB - Tropical peatlands store a significant portion of global soil carbon. However, fires in these ecosystems pose major monitoring challenges, particularly in detecting and distinguishing between flaming and smouldering phases. Distinguishing between these phases is crucial because the smouldering phase accounts for the majority of carbon and particulate emissions yet is far more difficult to detect. This review is the first to systematically link the physicochemical mechanisms of tropical peat combustion with remote sensing capabilities. Following the PRISMA 2020 protocol, 408 records were screened, and 23 articles were included to address three research questions: fire detection mechanisms, remote sensing methods and capabilities, and detection challenges. Phase detection relies on temperature-dependent radiation emissions. The flaming phase is best detected using shortwave infrared (SWIR), whereas the smouldering phase is best detected using thermal infrared (TIR) and longwave infrared (LWIR). The primary challenge lies in detecting the smouldering phase, which is difficult to identify yet most significant in terms of emissions. To address this, the study highlights high-temporal-resolution data such as VIIRS and recommends integrating the Tropical Peatland Combustion Algorithm index (ToPeCAI) with subpixel methods to enable accurate monitoring and classification of fire types at the local scale on a daily basis.
SN - 2667-0100
ER -